Indicator-actuating mechanism.



T.- P. WILSON.

INDICATOR AGTUATING uncmmsm. APPLIOATIOH FILED IAB. 14, 1910.

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fic' 4657/7712 cnLUMIIA ILANOGIAPM c0" WASHINGTON. h. C.

THATGI-IER P. WILSON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

INDICATOR-ACTUAIING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1911.

Application filed March 14, 1910. Serial No.'549,251.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THATCHER P. WILsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Indicator-Adamating Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a track switch for electrically actuatedstation indicators for cars, or the like; and consists particularly in amechanism which may be protected by placement behind the car wheel,being thus protected from injury and from accidental actuation.

In the indicator as shown, the rail forms one side of the electricalcircuit, the movable contact engaging with the rail at appropriatetimes. However, it will be seen that the rail may represent anystationary conductor; it is mainly for convenience and simplicity thatthe rail is used.

Figure 1 is a section showing the switch mechanism and the trackappurtenances thereof. Fig. 2 is a cross section showin the same inelevation. Fig. 3 is a sectiona plan view of the same taken on line 9-9of Fig. 1.

A contact arm 100 is suspended from truck 101 of the car, this contactarm being normally pulled in the directionindicated by the arrow by aspring 102 or other suflicient means. Arm 100 is pivoted at 103 to amember 104 secured to the truck, this memher being shown in such aconfiguration as to provide a stop 105 for the movement of arm 100 inthe direction indicated. The normal position of arm 100 is such that itslower end follows along the inside of rail 106 directly behind flange107 of wheel 108, but does not normally touch the rail. In order totouch the rail with arm 100 it is necessary that some considerable forcebe applied to move the arm outwardly, any ordinary obstruction whichwould force the arm outwardly being removed by the flange of the wheelimmediately preceding; or, if,

any article should happen to be so placed that the wheel flange shouldnot remove it, or should throw it against the arm, the arm is held inplace with such force by spring l0 2dthat it will ordinarily shove thearticle asl e.

Mounted on sleepers 110 is a frame 111 carrying a pivot 112. This pivotcarries a curved arm 118 of such configuration as is shown in Fig. 4.This arm is of such size and shape and placement relative to theplacement of arm 100 on the truck that when flange 107 passes betweenone of its ends 11 1 and rail 106, that end is forced away from the railand the other end is forced toward the rail. Arm 100 is at this instantbetween the other end of the arm 113 and the rail so that it is forcedinto contact with the rail.

The electrical connections are made by wires 63 and 61, one wireconnecting in some manner to the track rail 106 and the other connectingto arm 100. The connection of wire 63 to the track may be either througha brush or through the medium of the truck and wheels, arm 100 beinginsulated from the truck. These wires may lead to any form of indicatoractuable by an electrical impulse, some source of energy beinginterposed in the circuit.

I-Iaving described my invention, I claim 1. In combination with a railand flanged wheel running thereon, a depending arm having a motion oftranslation with the wheel, and means operated by the wheel flange toforce the arm into contact with the rail.

2. In combination with a rail and a flanged wheel running thereon, acontact arm depending approximately in the plane of the wheel flange,means to normally hold the arm out of engagement with the rail, astationary pivoted arm situated adjacent the rail and between which andthe rail both the flange of the wheel and the contact arm pass, thepivoted arm being so situated that the passage of the wheel flangebetween it and the rail will force the pivoted arm into engagement withthe contact arm and force it in turn into contact with the rail.

3. In combination with a rail, a wheel rolling thereon, and a framecarried by the wheel, a member mounted on the frame behind the wheel,and means actuated by the wheel to force the member into engagement withthe rail.

4. In combination With a track rail, a In Witness that I claim theforegoing I Wheel rolling thereon and a truck frame carhave hereuntosubscribed my name this 7th ried by the Wheel, a depending arm mountedday of March, 1910. on the frame directly behind the Wheel, and THATCHERP. WILSON. means mounted on the track and operable Witnesses: by theWheel to force the arm into engage- CORA E. MONTGOMERY, ment With therail. JAMES T. BARKELEW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

